Book will help West Sussexnurses learn about patients

TO HELP nurses understand patients more, a new initiative has been started in Chichester.

Knowing Me has been launched at St Richard’s Hospital.

It allows staff to know more about the lives, likes and dislikes of their patients, despite conditions such as dementia meaning communication and understanding may be difficult.

Each patient suffering from a condition that affects the memory is given a Knowing Me book.

This can be filled in by the patient or their carer, for hospital staff to look at and get to know a person better.

The initiative was developed by a range of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust staff.

Heather Pennicott, dementia nurse specialist, at St Richard’s, said: ‘The hospital environment can be difficult for someone with dementia, and the book helps staff to build a relationship with the patient and their carers. The more we know we can respond to their needs.’